Window latch



fff 24g n AR. MELLOR MESAS@ WINDOW LATCH Filed Aug. 10, 1933 bolt on thebottom railv of an Patented Sept. 24, 1935 untreuY smrss OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a latch for frames of screen windows and stormwindows, and has for its principal object the provision of a latch thatwill automatically catch and hold a latch outside screen window frame orframe of a storm window, and that is so constructed that the latchcannot be operated when the lower sash of the window casing is in itslowered position, and the operating means is also contained within anopen ended casing, so that operation of the latch to release the windowframe cannot be accomplished from the outside of the house whether thelower sash is closed or open.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a latch of thetype referred to that is reasonable in cost of manufacture, that issimple in operation, and that is effective in providing a latch for thepurpose stated.

The invention will be described in detail hereinaiter and will be foundillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is afragmentary view of a window casing and lower sash and the bottom railor a screen or storm window frame, showing the latch in positionrelatively thereto, the parts being shown unlatched.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l with the latch member shown insection, and the parts being shown in latched position,

Figure 3 is a front View of the latching mechanism, i

Figure 4 is a rear view,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on a plane indicated by the line5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a horizontal-sectional view on a plane indicatedby the line6--5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 7 is a detail view in elevation of a modified construction oflatch bolt.

In the drawing similar reference characters are used to designatecorresponding parts in all of the views.

In the -drawing is shown a window casing A in which is mounted the usualsliding window sash B, and shown in connection therewith the frame of astorm window or screen window C, the sill D of the casing being inclinedoutwardly and downwardly from the lower sash B, the usual practice toshed rain water.

Secured to the bottom rail of the frame C is a latch bolt Il) that isprovided with a threaded stem Il, the sides of the latch bolt lll beingflattened as shown at i2 to receive the jaws of a wrench for fasteningit in the frame. The extremity of the latch bolt lil is tapered as shownat i3, and said tapered portion on the under side ends with a recess ordepression I4 to be engaged by a latching member to be hereinafterdescribed. In Figure 7 the latch bolt indicated at Illl and having athreaded stem Il is provided with a polygonal shoulder I2' in lieu ofthe flattened side i2 hereinbefore described, to receive the jaws of awrench in turning the bolt.

The means for engaging the latch bolt lll is enclosed within a housingi5 having a substantially U-shaped wall iii, the side portions of saidU-shaped wall being divergent as shown at ll. The lower edges of theside walls il are turned outwardly as shown at i8 and returned under theportions i3 as shown at i9 to clamp a base plate 2t therebetween. Thebase plate 20 and parts i8 and i9 are provided with registered openings2i tol receive screws or other driven fastenings 22 to secure the casingin position on the window sill D, as shown, and-the lower wall of thecasing is inclined slightly as shown in Figures 1 and 2 to conform tothe inclination of sill D, so that theV remainder of the casing will bein vertical position when secured, and the inner end of the casing whichis open, as shown at 23, will snugly engage the lower rail of the lowersash B to prevent operation of the latching members inside of thecasing, that will be hereinafter described, when the lower sash is in aclosed position.

The base plate 2Q has an upturned portion 25 that provides a wallclosing the outer end of the casing l5 and said wall 24 has an opening25 therein te receive the laten bolt le when the frame member C is in aclosed position as shown in Figure 2. In order to hold the latch bolt ina latched position, there is provided a latching plate 26 having anopening 2l therein that registers at times with the opening 25, thelower wall of the opening 21, designated 28, by engaging in the recesslli locks the bolt in engagement in the casing and the window frame C inclosed position. Plate 26 is slidably mounted between grooved guides 29secured to the wall 25, and the plate 26 is provided with a ange 3d thatis engaged by a helical spring .3i of expansible type and that serves tonormally hold the plate in engaging position as shown in Figure 2. Thehelical spring as shown has been selected for illustration, but it willbe apparent that any other type of eX- pansible spring may besubstituted thereor without changing the spirit of the invention.

32 is a partition in the casing i5 that is connected to the wall 2t bymeans of brace members 33, and the partition 32 has an oifset forming ashoulder 34 intermediate of its upper and lower v ends, said shoulder31% providing a stop to limit the movement of the plate 25 under theimpulse of the spring 3i. Journaled in the wall 24 and partition 32 is ashaft 35 on which is secured a cam St, that when the shaft 35 isrotated, engages the plate 2t to move the plate. toward the position forregistration of the opening 21 therein with the opening 25 in the walli,and to release the latch bolt l0 when in a latched position, 31 is aknurled head on the shaft 35 for manual turning of the shaft as stated.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to theprecise or exact arrangement of parts illustrated and described, asdetails of construction may be modified and rearranged Y mounted on saidend Wall and over said opening, and having an opening therein to alinewith the opening in the Wall, an'angularly related flange on said plate,an expansible spring engaging said ange to normally hold the plate inlatching position, a partition in said housing having an oiset providinga shoulder to engage said flange and limit the movement of said plate tolatching position, a shaft rotatably mounted in said partition and endwall, and a cam on said shaft to engage the latch plate and move itagainst the tension of said spring with the opening therein alined withthe opening in the end wall.

ADRIEN R. MELLOR.

